Spread the Word about LinkMe and Get Rewarded!

LinkMe is offering $500 to folks who set up an interview with an employer who has a role in offing. (See details here). This is one of those things that, on the outset, appears reasonable.

“Great! ” reads the well-connected individual who is always open to new and exciting business ventures (and perhaps sells a little Amway on the side), “here’s a unique opportunity to make a quick buck.”

Here’s where I challenge you to look a little deeper; to engage your understanding of human behaviour, Australian culture - all that. Well-connected individual has a chat with Human Resources Manager (or whoever is in charge of finding employees within their company). Part way through the chat comes what is known in the sales industry as “The Permission”. It goes something like this:

“May I pass your details onto LinkMe so that they can contact you regarding this position. They may be able to connect you with passive candidates who you would otherwise not be able to find.”

Human resources Manager suspected that the well-connected individual smelled slightly of Amway - but now they are certain that what was perhaps a lingering aroma is a fully-qualified stench. The meeting is called to an abrupt halt with promises that the Human Resources Manager will “get back to” the well-connected individual.

Get the picture?

Figure A: Well-Connected Individual

Vouching For 2Vouch?

2Vouch coming soon.

This is a site based on profiteering from the popularity of internet-based social networking.It works like this: folks sign up and get sent ads for jobs. If they think that one of their friends fits the requirements, they recommend the friend and that person becomes a member as well. If the friend secures the position, the person “vouching” for them gets paid a fee, which can go directly to them or their favorite charity. The beta for the site is well prepared and the instructions are presented to would-be participants in a clear and cogent manner (except the voice-over syncing in the clip is a bit off and reminds one of a Chinese martial arts film). This is always a good start.

I’m a huge fan of this idea and have often pondered its implications at four in the morning when my head is full of cyberspace and the flashing of the computer screen that haunts my days begins to intrude into my night-time. Sites such as Facebook have demonstrated that the drive to be popular and fill one’s profile with a plethora of friends drives many an introvert into sudden extroversion.

I’m bugged by a few factors, though. And I’m prepared to risk appearing overly-critical and ponderous in order to get the low-down on what others think about my suspicions.

Firstly, any business that relies on friends or acquaintances making a profit from one another has an air of the Amway about it. Just the knowledge that there is more to my friend’s recommending me for a job than the simple pleasure they experience from me being happier or taking one more step up the ladder of success - they stand to make money from me. And whether this goes straight to their hip pocket or to that of their favorite charity, they are still gaining something more tangible from my taking the job offered than the joy of an alturistic act.

There are all sorts of personal and political dilemmas that can be foreseen here that may lead people to steer well clear of the site. What about the promotion of jobs from colleague to colleague within the same company? What about the guy who vouches for his mate for a position but the mate refuses to take the job, thereby doing the guy out of a buck. Personal strain…hello, here we come.

And haven’t the old Jobs.com.au kinda tried to do this anyway? Is this another attempt to cut out the recruiter that is going to fall on its face.Let me tell you up front - I hope I’m wrong.